SO GOOD QUOTES

Horrible is the approach of death to those who are passionate, wicked and weak, who have not attempted to live purely in this vain world. 

Those who toil, and successful contestants of devoutness, delight at the hour of their departure. 

They see before their eyes the great work of their fight, watchfulness, fasting, prostrations, prayer, weeping and sackcloth. 

Their souls are glad when they are summoned away from their bodies to go into their rest. 

But leaving this life is a cause for great sorrow for the sinner, who sees in front of his eyes his apathy and its caustic fruits. 

What repentance will then take hold of the heart of the one who has here ignored his salvation. 

O my soul, Woe to you, why do you neglect your life? 

Suddenly your call will come and what will you do there if you have been neglectful here? 

What will you do in front of the throne of the just Judge? 

How is it that the foe robs you, but you do not realize it? 

How is it that the foe robs you of heavenly wealth, but you are so preoccupied that you do not even realize it. 

Have mercy on me, O long-suffering Son of God and sinless Christ. 

O my Savior, allow me to ponder the coming life, so that I will do Your will. 

When I get old at very least let me partake of Your grace, so that I finish my unfortunate life with a profitable end. 

How will I who am careless stand in front of Your fearful throne? 

How will I who am impatient and unprofitable enter into the company of those who have here brought forth the fruits of goodness? 

By what characteristics will they recognize me when the saints and the upright on their heavenly beds perceive each other by their works? 

No, you have no grounds to laud yourself. 

The upright, the pure and the humble will walk in the unattainable light, but the sinful, the lazy, the arrogant, the proud and those who heedlessly live for their own satisfaction like me, will find themselves in the everlasting and inextinguishable fire. 

O my soul, be alert, and pray with tears. 

Call out with all your heart that before the end comes you might be converted and make a good beginning. 

O Lord, grant this to us, through the prayers of our spotless Lady the Theotokos and all Your saints, for You are blessed forever.

—St. Ephraim the Syrian